2023-2024 Sponsors
November 2, 2024 MPW LLM Homerun Derby
3ND ANNUAL HOMERUN DERBY
The Micah Pietila-Wiggs LLM Foundation's Homerun Derby is set for November 2, 2024 from
10AM - 6PM at Eastlake High School's
Michael Martinez Field.
Register below or on the "Events" page.
Age-groups are 10/U, 11/12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-29, 30+ (subject to change). There will be food vendors throughout the event and special guests in attendance.
About Us
Micah Pietila-Wiggs LLM Foundation
Micah Pietila-Wiggs was a renowned athlete and an accomplished student, but above all, he was an incredible friend. Micah’s love for life and his electric personality made him magnetic. He drew people in and treated everyone he encountered with the same genuine compassion and love.
Many will remember Micah from the 2013 Little League World Series when he and his Eastlake teammates won the United States Division at the iconic youth baseball tournament in South Williamsport, Pa.
His flowing long blond hair made him an instant media darling.
Others may remember a slightly older Micah as a key contributor to Eastlake High School’s 2017 San Diego Section Open Division championship team that finished No. 1 in the state rankings and ninth nationally. He also played football at Eastlake High School as a receiver and leader in the defensive backfield.
Micah excelled in every athletic endeavor he attempted and, perhaps more importantly, made a greater impact with his joyful personality that made many friends and admirers.
He went on to play college baseball at the University of New Mexico and later at Santa Ana College.
He had recently enrolled at San Diego State University to start a new career path outside of baseball as a business major.
#LLM stands for Live Like Micah.
MPW-LLM Foundation's Purpose
The Micah Pietila-Wiggs “LLM” foundation serves to carry on Micah’s legacy by recognizing and supporting high school seniors who embody the same qualities that made Micah who he was. These students make a positive impact in every setting whether it be in the classroom, at lunch, at practice, or in their community.
The MPW-LLM Foundation and the Pietila-Wiggs family have generated a unique process to identify and select high school seniors to award scholarships to be used towards their continued education.
Our Mission
To "Live Like Micah" is to be inclusive, authentic, and kind hearted. Micah Pietila-Wiggs left a lasting impact in the Eastlake, Chula Vista, San Diego, Albuquerque and Santa Ana communities, and we are committed to acknowledging students who resemble Micah's characteristics and contribute similarly in their respective communities in Micah’s memory.
Testimonials
“He was more than just a star athlete; he was a star person.”
- Micah’s former youth football coach Tim Johnson.
“There are so many great things to say about Micah, he was always jolly and happy. He was a fun player to be around, always smiling. He made everyone feel comfortable. But he was very competitive. He wanted his team to win.” - Eastlake High School Baseball, Coach Dave Gallegos
“Micah made the world a better place. He was the first person to pick his teammates up if they were down and push them to be better every day. He always had a smile on his face, upbeat energy, and a huge heart."
- Coach for the University of New Mexico Baseball Team, Jon Coyne
“When Micah was on my 2013 Little League World Series team, he was just happy go lucky, always smiling, and he kept the team moving forward and winning games with his talent. His teammates looked up to him. I clearly remember one time when he played for ELHS, Eastlake was playing a team that was expected to beat them. Micah was the first batter. First pitch came and he hit a home run. That was the game changer. That was Micah — he could be counted on. And that extended beyond the field because he was also a good friend, a good neighbor, a good son and brother — just an all-around all-star guy.”
- West Region Little League World Series Manager Rick Tibbett
"Micah was one of a kind. We all know his athletic accomplishments and as great as those were, he was an even better person. He always had a smile, was always happy and always took the time to have a genuine conversation if you crossed paths. He understood what it meant to be a student-athlete and what it meant to be a friend to all. He had a presence that lit up the room and an energy that was infectious. He made you want to smile and have a great day."
- Alex Estrada, former coach at Eastlake High School and current Athletic Coordinator for the Sweetwater Union High School District
"Micah was my 'all-time favorite opposition player'.
He was a phenomenal athlete who was difficult to get out but extremely fun to watch play. Micah’s resume of championships pale compared to his championship personality."
- Former Bonita Vista High School Baseball Coach Vincent Gervais
"I want to share two moments in which Micah showed me true unconditional kindness. Starting middle school, I was new to the area and really didn’t have many friends. Micah, always had a group of people around him. I used to eat my lunch alone because I really struggled to find a group, until Micah approached me and took his lunch period to introduce me to some people who became my closest friends through middle and high school. Micah didn’t even know who I was but saw that I was alone and decided to change that. I’ll never forget the kindness he showed to me that day but that was nothing out of his character.
When I was struggling with repetitive injuries in middle school, these kids in PE started to poke fun and bully me. Micah was the first and only person to stick up for me and brought me under his wing during that period. When I could start walking again he would finish his mile and run back to walk with me until I finished mine.
Micah was always the first person to include someone excluded and the absolute most energized ball of happy in any room he walked into." - Elisabeth Lundgren, Eastlake High School c/o 2017
“Micah made a huge impact on me as someone with Autism and ADHD. Micah made me feel special, he didn't see anything different in me, he saw me as a normal human being. He always made time to talk to me during our passing periods and whenever we saw each other during our lunch period. Micah was a good friend to me and made a massive impact on my life. I am glad I got to be friends with Micah."
- Arturo Salas Garcia, Eastlake High School, c/o 2018
"I want you to know that Micah has reached as far as Portugal. His story has reached all across the pond and I try to #LLM all the way over here in the Azores. He has touched many lives. Don’t for a second think he has just touched lives in America.
I was devastated at the news of Micah’s passing and took it hard. He had such a huge impact on my life and I just tried to live like him to pay him back. He lives with me every day. I never met him but I didn’t need to. His legacy was like a ton of bricks. He lives on in me and the foreigners I pass by every day. He continues to spread his love. Long live Micah! #LLM" - Caroline Parker, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal
Attached is a link to an incredible article written by Phillip Brents of the Star News: https://www.thestarnews.com/former-llws-eastlake-high-star-athlete-micah-pietila-wiggs-mourned/